The Council has produced two important housing studies
that will inform future planning policies for the Borough.
The Strategic Housing Market Assessment or 'SHMA'
This study examines the current and likely future housing
market in terms of both the number and types of dwellings that
may be required, including the need for affordable
housing.
The overall aim of the SHMA is to provide an evidence base from
which future housing and planning policies can be developed.
Consultation on the draft SHMA ran from November 2011 to
January 2012.
The final document was produced in May 2012.
For further information on the SHMA, please contact
the Planning Policy Section.
The Strategic Housing Land Availability
Assessment (SHLAA)
The SHLAA provides information on the potential sources of
land available for housing development to meet the overall
requirements identified for the Borough. It is a study not a
policy document, but it will inform future planning policies and
site allocations. The final document was produced in February 2013
and it covers the period up to March 2028.
The study:
- Identifies sites with potential for housing development;
- Assesses that potential; and
- Assesses when sites could be developed.
and as a result:-
- Informs the formal allocation of sites in the Borough's
forthcoming Local Plan
- Demonstrates whether there is sufficient 'deliverable' and
'developable' land in the Borough to meet housing requirements
- Identifies whether action would need to be taken to ensure
sites will become deliverable or whether plan policies would need
to be reviewed to enable sites to be developed for
housing
It is important to note that consideration or inclusion of
a site within a SHLAA does not guarantee that the site will be
allocated for housing or that planning permission would be granted
for housing development on the site. Similarly, applications for
housing development on sites not included within the SHLAA would
not automatically be refused. The study identifies
potential housing sites and the decision
regarding which, if any, sites will be selected for housing
allocation, is made later in the Local Plan process. Whilst the
assessment addresses whether sites are suitable for housing, this
should only be taken to mean that they are suitable provided they
are not required for other purposes, and are required to meet plan
targets.
The Council has prepared a short Question and Answer leaflet to
help explain the assessment process . Barrow Strategic Housing Land
Availability Assessment Question & Answer
Leaflet (PDF 70 KB)
SHLAA Sites
The following maps show all the sites considered in the
SHLAA.
The Council identified sites for consideration in the SHLAA
in two ways. Firstly, through a desktop review of
existing documents (including those currently allocated for
housing and those with planning permission but not yet built).
Secondly, through a call for sites, which invited anyone who
owns a site, had an interest in a site or knew of land which they
though has potential for housing development, to put the site
forward for assessment.
The call for sites ended on 20th January 2012, however if
you have, or know of, a site which you think should be considered
for housing allocation in the forthcoming Local Plan, please
contact the Planning Policy section who are currently accepting
site submissions as part of the Regulation 18 process. For
further information on the SHLAA, please contact: Leanne
Parr, Planning Officer on 01229 876388 or via email at
developmentplans@barrowbc.gov.uk